I planned my own funeral

When Mum said she had bought her plot and organised the service,I was happy everything would be just as she wanted, says Barbara Scully

MY mother shocked me. “I suppose I should tell you what I did last week,” she said casually from the passenger seat of my car as I negotiated city-centre traffic.

“Oh yeah,” I said, fully expecting to hear something mundane. “I have arranged my funeral,” she said. I clung to the steering wheel and fought to keep my eyes on the road and my voice calm.!